What Every Security-Conscious Leader Should Know about Apple’s Big Update

Apple is continuing to cement a legacy of innovation in mobile devices. At the June 2 World Wide Developer’s Conference, major new features and enhancements to existing features were announced, but for the risk-conscious executive, updates to Apple’s iOS mobile operating system present new challenges to organizational security.

Vigilant CEOs and CTOs should be aware of the new risks these updates pose and be prepared to update policy documents to minimize legal and data exposure.

Better Integration between Mobile Devices
Apple devices are known for playing nicely within the Apple family, but not so when it comes to other operating systems. New features are rolling out that will allow applications like Apple’s desktop-based Messages to work with non-Apple devices.

The Red Tape: Employees already use SMS and instant message-based platforms for important communications. These new changes will only encourage more frequent use of these systems, which are not audited or recorded in the same way as corporate email.

Self-Destructing Messages
Media darling SnapChat has demonstrated a significant unmet need in the marketplace for data security. A new feature introduced by Apple will allow any SMS-based message to be set to automatically delete after a short period of time. The kicker? These features will be turned on by default for many iOS devices.

The Red Tape: Employees may be unaware that their business communications via SMS will be automatically deleted. Companies that must keep records of official communications will find it difficult to remain compliant in this new “deletion by default” environment.

Enhanced Cloud-Based Storage
Apple has announced that it will be easier than ever to upload files to services like iCloud, Box, and Dropbox. Native integration will mean reduced barriers to already simple programs, encouraging users to store documents in the cloud.